Seanad debates
Wednesday, 11 December 2002
Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2002: Committee and Remaining Stages.
I agree with much that the Senator said. However, I made it clear – the Government was equally of this view – that if I was going to remove the withering provision and restore the planning permissions, I was not prepared to get nothing for it. The optimal view which the Senator has eloquently put across was my starting position. I then had to work out what was achievable and what I could get under the law. After a huge amount of discussion of all sorts of options, the best one was the one which would deliver or maintain immediate supply in the market. I wanted to get something for it. That is the reason I introduced the levy. It is fair and will bring a substantial amount of money into the local authorities. In 2003 and 2004 it will provide at least €80 million and possibly more, although we must wait to see what will happen in that regard.
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